Summer Boarding Courses
How to Write a Personal Statement for Summer School or University
Are you wondering how to write a personal statement for Summer School or University? Summer Boarding Courses HQ asked our fellow friends over at Dukes Education company, Oxbridge Applications for some personal statement advice!
How to write a personal statement for Summer School or University
So you want to know what things to write in a personal statement. Excellent! Oxbridge Applications have some brilliant advice on how you can get started if you want to study in the UK or elsewhere. They can certainly help with writing a personal statement.
We will show you how to start a personal statement about yourself, what the best personal statements include, what to avoid and how to leave that lasting impression on the tutor. As a result, you will have a really good personal statement in no time!
What is a personal statement?
You can create a personal statement to be an application to a University, college course or Summer School. It showcases your interests, passions and achievements, so that you can convince the establishment reading it to accept you onto their course.
When it comes to writing a personal statement, this is your chance to the reader a chance to meet the real you! You may be a little nervous about how to write a personal statement. Do not worry; we are going to guide you step by step.
How to start a personal statement, before you even start typing!
If you’re thinking about how to begin a personal statement, and are a little nervous about it, ask yourself this:
Why do I want to be a part of this course?
What are my strengths and passions?
Why should I be accepted?
Your personal statement application should demonstrate your interest in the course, showcase what you can bring to the University, college or Summer School, and convince the admissions tutors to offer you a place.
Express yourself with the limited words you have
You have limited space to express yourself, so every sentence in your personal statement counts. Bear in mind that you can only write one personal statement for all your choices if you are applying to University, so make sure that you are tailoring your statement as much as possible to each of the courses you are applying for.
Without this thoughtful approach, the reader might doubt your commitment to their course.
One thing’s for certain: you won’t come up with a polished personal statement overnight. It will take many drafts, a lot of editing and a few late-night flashes of inspiration. Yet, it will all be worth it when those Summer School or University offers start rolling in! To help you get started, we’ve got a few useful tips to point you in the right direction.
How do you start, once you’re ready to type?
Wondering how to write personal statements from the start? There are about a million ways to start a personal statement, and there is no one correct way to begin!
Some people start with a quote which encapsulates their interest. Others start with an anecdote that explains where their curiosity for their subject stems from.
Your opening should set the tone for the rest of the personal statement, show your enthusiasm and interest in your subject and introduce the admissions tutor to your personality. Don’t feel like you need to pretend to be someone else in your personal statement; just make sure you are your academic self!
Speak as you would to your headteacher; clearly, maturely, but retaining a sense of who you are.
What should you include in a personal statement?
What is in a personal statement? Although it’s called a personal statement, the idea is not just to give the school a short history of your life to date. You need to be expressing your academic self, your interest in the subject that you are applying for and your achievements in that area. Brainstorm your ideas below with the following pointers, so you can begin to see what to write in a personal statement:
Subject-related work experience
What have you done so far that is connected to the subject and course you are applying for? Maybe you have studied something particular in school, or have worked hard on a project in your spare time. Have you volunteered somewhere to add to your experience? Have you worked with and along someone who has experience and expertise in the subject you are applying for?
Courses or lectures you attended which have advanced your knowledge
What courses or lectures have you attended which have advanced your understanding and skills in the subject you are applying for? What did you study particularly? Is there anything that you have learned, which has improved your knowledge and understanding?
Relevant books or articles that you have read
What have you been reading that has made you even more enthusiastic and eager to learn more about the subject you are applying for? What did you learn by reading these books and articles? Are there particular authors you have enjoyed reading lately, that are making an impact on you?
Take your English to the next level!
Academic awards
If you have won an academic award, and been recognised for your skills and achievements, make sure to mention them! Have you received any certificates or recognition? If so, what was the award?
Extra-curricular activities
You should mention your extra-curricular achievements as well, but the amount of space that you dedicate to this section should depend on the university or summer course to which you are applying. If you are applying to Oxford or Cambridge, you should keep your extra-curricular activities to a minimum, as these universities are focused primarily on your academic achievements.
How do you finish a personal statement?
Do you need help writing a personal statement closing paragraph? Almost as hard as starting is finishing your University or Summer Program personal statement!
Your final paragraph doesn’t have to be long – just enough to round off your statement and reiterate your interest and dedication to your subject.
Be careful that you don’t come across as too arrogant or self-assured here; it can be easy after almost 4000 characters of blowing your own trumpet, to get a little carried away!
What not to include in a personal statement
Your personal statement is your space to sell your own subject interest. You haven’t got much room, so make sure that you’re not repeating anything that the admissions tutors could find out somewhere else on your application form. This can include listing your qualifications or grades: these go on the form in a different section.
Be positive in your personal statement!
How do you write your personal statement positively?
This is not the place to attempt to explain a lower predicted grade due to a disagreement with a teacher or the fact that you needed to miss school for an extended period due to illness. If there is something in this vein that you feel the admissions tutors should know, ask the teacher writing your reference, whether he or she could include this in the reference section of your application form.
It’s more appropriate for your teacher to bring this to the admissions tutor’s attention. It means that you will not be wasting space trying to explain yourself. Instead you can just dazzle the course with your interests and achievements!
Our final advice on how to write a personal statement!
It’s a challenge but it’s worth it
Writing the best personal statement may not be the most exciting activity for you. After days, weeks and even months of drafting and summoning up the motivation to proofread your statement, it can be a challenge. Yet it is absolutely essential!
Proof read again and again
You know that feeling you get when you spot a typo in an article? No matter how insignificant, it lowers your opinion of the content of the piece and the author. Admissions tutors are likely to be sticklers for accuracy, so make sure you get your teachers, friends and parents to proof-read it a couple of times. One tip is to begin with the last sentence and work your way through your personal statement backwards; it keeps you focused on individual sentences and not the full statement.
Good luck with writing the personal statement!
By now you should be very confident with how to write a good personal statement. You now know how to start your personal statement, what to include in it and how to finish it all on a high note! Look on it as a challenge, but also a very important opportunity to talk about a fascinating subject – you!
Do you need more help on writing a personal statement?
For more assistance with writing subject-specific personal statements, and to find out how Oxbridge Applications can help with personal statements, please click here.
How to write a personal statement for Summer School or University
So you want to know what things to write in a personal statement. Excellent! Oxbridge Applications have some brilliant advice on how you can get started if you want to study in the UK or elsewhere. They can certainly help with writing a personal statement.
We will show you how to start a personal statement about yourself, what the best personal statements include, what to avoid and how to leave that lasting impression on the tutor. As a result, you will have a really good personal statement in no time!
What is a personal statement?
You can create a personal statement to be an application to a University, college course or Summer School. It showcases your interests, passions and achievements, so that you can convince the establishment reading it to accept you onto their course.
When it comes to writing a personal statement, this is your chance to the reader a chance to meet the real you! You may be a little nervous about how to write a personal statement. Do not worry; we are going to guide you step by step.
How to start a personal statement, before you even start typing!
If you’re thinking about how to begin a personal statement, and are a little nervous about it, ask yourself this:
Why do I want to be a part of this course?
What are my strengths and passions?
Why should I be accepted?
Your personal statement application should demonstrate your interest in the course, showcase what you can bring to the University, college or Summer School, and convince the admissions tutors to offer you a place.
Express yourself with the limited words you have
You have limited space to express yourself, so every sentence in your personal statement counts. Bear in mind that you can only write one personal statement for all your choices if you are applying to University, so make sure that you are tailoring your statement as much as possible to each of the courses you are applying for.
Without this thoughtful approach, the reader might doubt your commitment to their course.
One thing’s for certain: you won’t come up with a polished personal statement overnight. It will take many drafts, a lot of editing and a few late-night flashes of inspiration. Yet, it will all be worth it when those Summer School or University offers start rolling in! To help you get started, we’ve got a few useful tips to point you in the right direction.
How do you start, once you’re ready to type?
Wondering how to write personal statements from the start? There are about a million ways to start a personal statement, and there is no one correct way to begin!
Some people start with a quote which encapsulates their interest. Others start with an anecdote that explains where their curiosity for their subject stems from.
Your opening should set the tone for the rest of the personal statement, show your enthusiasm and interest in your subject and introduce the admissions tutor to your personality. Don’t feel like you need to pretend to be someone else in your personal statement; just make sure you are your academic self!
Speak as you would to your headteacher; clearly, maturely, but retaining a sense of who you are.
What should you include in a personal statement?
What is in a personal statement? Although it’s called a personal statement, the idea is not just to give the school a short history of your life to date. You need to be expressing your academic self, your interest in the subject that you are applying for and your achievements in that area. Brainstorm your ideas below with the following pointers, so you can begin to see what to write in a personal statement:
Subject-related work experience
What have you done so far that is connected to the subject and course you are applying for? Maybe you have studied something particular in school, or have worked hard on a project in your spare time. Have you volunteered somewhere to add to your experience? Have you worked with and along someone who has experience and expertise in the subject you are applying for?
Courses or lectures you attended which have advanced your knowledge
What courses or lectures have you attended which have advanced your understanding and skills in the subject you are applying for? What did you study particularly? Is there anything that you have learned, which has improved your knowledge and understanding?
Relevant books or articles that you have read
What have you been reading that has made you even more enthusiastic and eager to learn more about the subject you are applying for? What did you learn by reading these books and articles? Are there particular authors you have enjoyed reading lately, that are making an impact on you?